Describe something that you know how to do well. How do you know you do it well? How did you get interested in this topic? How did you develop your expertise? How do you hope to use this knowledge/skill in the future?
Something that I think I'm very good at is empathizing with others. I can put myself in other people's shoes in order to help them deal with whatever may be going on in their life. As a result, I am able to give helpful advice and comfort. I have developed this skill because of my own hardships in life. Since I was little, I was always able to read people and understand what they were feeling. Then from that, I started thinking, "what would I want someone to say to me or do for me if I was feeling that way?" Once I saw the impact that I made by empathizing with friends, family, and even strangers, I realized how important a quality it is to have. When people come to me for advice, I don't just tell them what I think they should do, because everything is easier said then done. Instead, I think about how they're feeling, and what steps might be easier for them and will more likely yield the desired result. If you tell someone who is afraid of water, "Just jump in the deep end and swim!" they're not going to do it. They'll be too afraid and will never get in the water. However, if you say, "Start in the shallow end and we'll gradually work our way to the deep end", you're more likely to help them get over their fear. This is a very simple example, but by understanding the feeling that a person has, such as fear, you can give much more beneficial advice and suggestions.
I know that I'm able to empathize well because I've been told that it is one of my best qualities. But that aside, I know that I'm good at it because I see myself do it all the time and in almost every situation. Even when I disagree with someone, I think about it from their perspective, and it helps me see why they might be upset with me or where the misunderstanding is. I believe that my dislike for confrontation and tension is why I have developed this skill so well; by being able to see where another person is coming from in their thought-process, I am able to defuse and calm situations more easily.
I have realized that this ability is not something that everybody has, and it is something that will help me be a better teacher. Being able to understand what my students are feeling will help me figure out how to respond to them and how to help them. Without the ability to sense when a student is afraid or nervous, I wouldn't be able to help him/her feel more safe. This is an essential part of being a teacher because in order for learning to occur, students have to feel safe and cannot be afraid.
Personal Expertise
Describe something that you know how to do well. How do you know you do it well? How did you get interested in this topic? How did you develop your expertise? How do you hope to use this knowledge/skill in the future?
Something that I think I'm very good at is empathizing with others. I can put myself in other people's shoes in order to help them deal with whatever may be going on in their life. As a result, I am able to give helpful advice and comfort. I have developed this skill because of my own hardships in life. Since I was little, I was always able to read people and understand what they were feeling. Then from that, I started thinking, "what would I want someone to say to me or do for me if I was feeling that way?" Once I saw the impact that I made by empathizing with friends, family, and even strangers, I realized how important a quality it is to have. When people come to me for advice, I don't just tell them what I think they should do, because everything is easier said then done. Instead, I think about how they're feeling, and what steps might be easier for them and will more likely yield the desired result. If you tell someone who is afraid of water, "Just jump in the deep end and swim!" they're not going to do it. They'll be too afraid and will never get in the water. However, if you say, "Start in the shallow end and we'll gradually work our way to the deep end", you're more likely to help them get over their fear. This is a very simple example, but by understanding the feeling that a person has, such as fear, you can give much more beneficial advice and suggestions.
I know that I'm able to empathize well because I've been told that it is one of my best qualities. But that aside, I know that I'm good at it because I see myself do it all the time and in almost every situation. Even when I disagree with someone, I think about it from their perspective, and it helps me see why they might be upset with me or where the misunderstanding is. I believe that my dislike for confrontation and tension is why I have developed this skill so well; by being able to see where another person is coming from in their thought-process, I am able to defuse and calm situations more easily.
I have realized that this ability is not something that everybody has, and it is something that will help me be a better teacher. Being able to understand what my students are feeling will help me figure out how to respond to them and how to help them. Without the ability to sense when a student is afraid or nervous, I wouldn't be able to help him/her feel more safe. This is an essential part of being a teacher because in order for learning to occur, students have to feel safe and cannot be afraid.
Katrina's Personal Profile